CAMBRIDGE RAMBLING CLUB (Associated with HF Holidays)
WINTER/ SPRING NEWSLETTER 2010
Future Activities
17th January 2010, Sunday B Walkers' New Year Lunch and walk. The lunch is at the George and Dragon, Elsworth and costs £15 for 3 courses plus tea/coffee (including tip). There will be a 5.75 mile walk beforehand. Please contact John 01223 843717 for menu choices. Cheque made payable to John and reply slip should be with him no later than 31st December.
26th -28th March 2010. Coach Weekend, Brompton-by-Sawdon, near Scarborough. A few places are still available in twin en-suite rooms, at the Wydale Hall retreat and conference centre on the edge of the North York Moors. The total cost, including the coach, for 2 nights Dinner B&B plus packed lunches, is £123 for a shared room or £138 for a singly-occupied room.
We plan to depart from St John's Innovation Centre, Cowley Road, Cambridge at 11 am on Friday 26 March (with a prior Ely pick-up if required), returning to Cambridge late on Sunday evening. If you wish to reserve a place please send a deposit of £30 (payable to Cambridge Rambling Club) to David asap. The final balance will now be due on 1st January (the deadline has been extended)
24th April 2010, London Walk. 2 walks in the Twickenham, Teddington, Kingston and Hampton Court areas. For full details send SAE to Audrey after 1st March.
Sunday 16th May 2010, Oxfam Walk, Milton Country Park. Details to follow in next newsletter.
Sunday 11th July 2010, Summer Outing. Details to follow in next newsletter.
Sunday 5th - 12th September 2010. Lake District Week, Borrowdale YH, nr Rosthwaite. 20 places reserved in 2 and 4/6 berth rooms which will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Self catering will be available if required. Overnight cost for room only will be £18 per night in 4 berth rooms and £20 per night in 2 berth rooms. Please note that this does not include transport which is undertaken personally. Anyone staying in a B&B is welcome to join the walks, and to take evening meals at the hostel. To secure a place please send to David a deposit of £50 payable to Cambridge Rambling Club. Final payment will be due 31st May 2010.
15th-17th October 2010. Autumn Weekend at the Whipper-In Hotel, Oakham. We are planning a stay at this 17th century coaching inn located in the centre of this historic town. Used by Ramblers Countrywide Holidays the hotel offers 7 Doubles/15 Twins at £110 per person for 2 nights Dinner B&B and 2 Singles at £160 Dinner B&B. The rate for 1 person occupying a twin or double would be £200. Travel would be by shared cars or train (Oakham station is 10 minutes walk from the hotel). There is plenty of delightful walking in this area on the edge of Rutland Water. Nearby is the Georgian town of Stamford, Burghley House and Barnsdale Gardens. Pat is organising this weekend and needs to know by 31st January if there is enough interest to proceed. Please contact her tel: 01223 504197 for further details.
Hostel (& similar) Weekends
Hostel trips are relatively informal affairs, with weekend walks on Saturday and Sunday and overnight accommodation on Friday and Saturday. Trips a long way from Cambridge are often for 3 nights or more. 'A' walks are guaranteed, with around 6 hours walking; 'B' walks depend on a volunteer leader - please do offer! Travel is normally in cars and we try to arrange car sharing. All bookings are handled by Jill Tuffnell, with cheques payable to 'E G Tuffnell'. Please book well in advance as the full balance must be paid at least 8 weeks before the trip. If you can offer to drive or want a lift - please let Jill know. And you are very welcome to book your own B&B or hotel and join us on walks.
* Wells next the Sea, Norfolk - 'rent-a-hostel': Friday 5th to Sunday 7th February 2010. (2 nights stay). Another return - this time to the very well-equipped, comfortable hostel near Holkham Hall on the Norfolk Coast. We have sole use of this self-catering hostel over the weekend. The cost of the hostel has increased since our last visit to £35 per person for the weekend. A couple of places left - 'B' walks guaranteed.
* Stow on the Wold, Cotswolds - Friday 12th to Sunday 14th March 2010. (2 nights stay). It is some years since we visited Stow and it is particularly delightful in the spring. The hostel is well situated in the market square and can provide meals; there is also a self-catering kitchen area. Please call Jill to check availability - bed cost for 2 nights is £38.00.
* Easter 2010 - Thursday 1st April to Monday 5th April (4 nights), Youlgreave, Peak District. We are returning to Youlgreave YH over Easter - a great centre for exploring Lathkildale, Millers Dale, Monsal Head, the Edges and the grounds of Chatsworth House. Meals available. Please send cheques for £21 a night to Jill, (£84 in total).
* Bryn Gwynant YH, Snowdonia: Early May 2010 Bank Holiday weekend: Thursday April 29th to Monday 3rd May (4 nights). It is some years since we visited this fantastically located hostel at the bottom of the 'Watkin Path' on Snowdon. The hostel is well placed to explore the Nantlle Ridge and Beddgelert areas. Meals available. The cost is £20 per person/night - so £80 for the 4 nights. Please send cheques to Jill.
* Isle of Wight linear coast path walk, Friday 28th May to Wednesday 2nd June (Bank Holiday week) - (5 nights). As a change from our usual backpacking trip we will be based at Totland Bay YH for 5 nights, hiring a bus to get us to each leg of the 63 mile 'easy walking' circular route of the Isle. Train/bus travel to Totland is yet to be worked out but hopefully we can leave our cars at home. The bed cost is £20 a night; please send deposits of £20 if you want to reserve a place by 1st January, with the balance payable by 21st March. Meals available at the hostel.
* Street, Somerset Friday 16th to Sunday 18th July (2 nights). This hostel, designed as a Swiss chalet, is located close to the Mendips near Glastonbury. It is self-catering and there is good walking from the door. If you want some alternative recreation, Clarks shoes have an outlet nearby for retail therapy! The 'dorm' cost is £14 per person per night; there are two smaller family rooms available for couples which cost £19 per person per night. Please send full cost to Jill Tuffnell; offers for 'B' leader welcomed.
* Dartmoor and south Devon coast Thursday 12th August to Tuesday 17th August (5 nights). We have arranged 3 nights at Bellever YH, deep in the heart of Dartmoor, from Thursday to Saturday, followed by 2 nights (Sunday & Monday) at the beautifully situated Salcombe YH, in the National Trust property and gardens of Sharpitor, a mile south of the town on the Devon coast. Both hostels are close to stunning walking country; the moors contrasted by some of the best coastal walking in Europe! Meals available. Please send a deposit of £20 to Jill. Note - parking cars at Salcombe is dreadful without an NT sticker. Offers to lead 'B' walks would be very welcome!
* Welsh Bicknor, in the Wye Valley , Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd October (2 nights). This weekend is in fabulous walking country on the Welsh/English Marches, close to the River Severn and near to the Wye Valley. The walking is excellent - straight from the door. Please send a deposit of £20 to Jill to reserve a place. 'B' walks' leader required!
News and Notices
Sad News: Members will be saddened to learn of the death of Vera Hulme who had been a member since 1961. Vera was General Secretary in the 1970s and organised weekend trips. She was a regular walker and only stopped walking up to 5 miles with the 'C' group when she reached the age of 88! She will be missed and we send our condolences to Arthur.
Henry Bridge, who was a member in the 1960s and 70s, died in late October 2009 at the age of 99. He moved on (or up!) from the Club at the age of 68 to become a remarkable 'older' walker in the Long Distance Walkers Association, still able to complete a100 mile walk in under 41 hours when aged 81 - the oldest person to achieve this!
Wednesday 'B' News from John. With regret I report that both Barbara and Rosemary recently fell and fractured their hip bones. Our best wishes go to both of them. We are delighted to welcome back to our group Yvonne following a hip replacement and Janet after illness. The Christmas Lunch will take place on December 16th at the George & Dragon, Elsworth.
Wednesday 'C' News from Sheila. Thank you to everyone who rallied round to make the next programme possible, several of you leading two walks. We miss Derwent very much and wish him better health for the future. With regards to my fractured pelvis, it will not let me do any leading yet. Sorry!
Annual General Meeting, 21st November. There was a good attendance at the AGM - thanks to all those members who braved Cambridge's parking problems! John Pym resigned as President and Jill Tuffnell was elected to take over. Our thanks to John for his great contribution during the past 3 years. Most other Committee posts remain unchanged. Angela retired as a Committee member and two new members were elected - Meg and Patricia. Club life memberships were proposed and agreed for Chris B, Sheila K, Margaret G and Josephine. All four have contributed greatly to the smooth running of the Club over many years. We still need a Club representative on the Cambridge Group Ramblers Association Committee - please volunteer!
Chris Gerrard, Director of 'Living Landscapes' at the local Wildlife Trust, gave an illustrated talk on the 'Great Fen' project; this was very informative and well received. We` asked Chris to arrange a walk through Holme Fen and Woodwalton Fen for Club members - so we can appreciate this important part of our local landscape.
Archivist. This post is still vacant. Anyone interested in maintaining the club's records and photos, and liaising with the County Archivist, please contact Jill Tuffnell.
Pubs: When we stop at a pub we expect everyone who makes use of pub facilities - as a minimum - to buy a drink. Please remember that only drinks bought from the pub are to be consumed on the premises or in the garden. Own drinks from flasks, bottles etc are NOT to be consumed here. There is, of course, no obligation to go to a pub.
Subscriptions. Due now, no change at £4. If you have set up a standing order the new programme and newsletter will be sent to you. If you have not completed a standing order form please can you do so? Forms can be downloaded from the website or obtained from Simon W. Save yourself the worry of arranging an annual renewal!
The next Committee Meeting is on Tuesday 16th March at the Wesley Church, King Street, Cambridge at 7.30 p.m.